So on Saturday wife and I just got into freeway. After passing through 65 (speed limit is 65, average speed is higher) and approaching 70, changed lanes. Established change and about five seconds later looked in rear view mirror for second lane change. Looked up to see the 2004 Jeep then wham!!

He didn't stop and sped off to the next exit. At the off ramp light the driver puts on sunglasses while putting his hand on the driver's side glass to prevent me getting a good look at his face. Then, while laughing, sticks his hand out the sunroof and flips us off, then runs the red light to leave. Wife took pics of the jeep and there's a partial of his face in the left door mirror. (Dark tint prevented his pic through rear glass.

Gotta love humanity some days.

So the questing at heart, Geico has totaled the vehicle and provided an offer about $2K lower than anything we can find online which is comparable. With that, has anyone gone through this and are the settlements [with Geico] negotiable?

To make things really great, we came home to the title in the mail as she just paid of the car

TIA


++++++++++++

UPDATE

So the CHiP did some sleuthing.

Turns out the person who hit us purchased (cash) the vehicle 13 days prior. The release of liability form submitted by the seller (with the buyer's info) contained a totally fake, but real, address. Seems the address was being moved in by a couple who just closed escrow last Monday (two days after the accident). Seller of the home had moved out the first week of March and was confirmed by neighbors.

To make it better, also on that Monday (two days after the hit and run), the car was involved in a chase by the El Cajon police for an unrelated reason. The Jeep was able to get away.

So word to the wise for those of you out there - if you're involved in a hit and run, be VERY careful about following. You never know who hit you.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LS1 GTO,

Everything is negotiable. Stay on them. Do you have UM/UIM coverage? Gap insurance? Were either of you injured?

quote:

Originally posted by ruger357:
Everything is negotiable. Stay on them. Do you have UM/UIM coverage? Gap insurance? Were either of you injured?

Yes to the uninsured, took a day off for injuries (at doctor). Got really really lucky as we were in a Honda Accord and the Cherokee hit (about +20 mph over our speed per CHiP estimate) so soft componets absorbed impact as crumple zone). Car was paid off, no gap ins.

Call a personal injury attorney. A good one will know how to get money from your um coverage.

While mine wasn't totaled, I had no issues when I was involved in a hit and run. I use AAA. The work ended up costing around $6000, though. Dunno how much your car is worth.

quote:

Originally posted by Orguss:
While mine wasn't totaled, I had no issues when I was involved in a hit and run. I use AAA. The work ended up costing around $6000, though. Dunno how much your car is worth.

Offer is 10,200. Looking online, comparable vehicles are in the $12,200 range.

quote:

Offer is 10,200. Looking online, comparable vehicles are in the $12,200 range.

What is your deductible, and is their figure of $10,200 already figuring that in?

My son had a fight with Allstate. He hired someone who specialed in dealing with the insurance company. My son was in a similar situation the were lowballing the value of the car. It took a couple months but he received over 2k more than the first insurance offer. He was in a similar situation insurance company was low compared to similar cars on the market.

If you want I can email you the contact information for person that handled the issue.

Online comps only matter if the comps are within a reasonable (market) distance, and are recent. Prices in San Diego aren’t relevant if you are in Los Angeles. A 4wd truck value in Alaska is very different than a 2wd truck. If they are unwilling to budge (normal), then ask them in writing for the comps they are using, and to include a current for sale comp that you can go buy right then. Let them know that if the comp is in fact comparable that they you would like them to explain to the seller why the price is unreasonable, and have them get the seller to accept the comp price. Or pay you the true value.

As mentioned, use your UM. That’s what it’s for. See the doc, send it through UM. Do therapy, use UM. Etc.

Although they are ‘your’ insurance company, the adjuster’s performance review is based on how much they did NOT pay out in claims.

quote:

Wife took pics of the jeep

Did she get the license plate?

You should post the picture

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Wife took pics of the jeep

Did she get the license plate?

Oh yea, and a partial of his face. Registration expires in May.

Offer was pre deductible.

quote:

Originally posted by Dusty78:
You should post the picture

I'm tempted but due to certain privacy laws, I'm also reluctant.

But if you see a 2004 Jeep Cherokee, charcoal, driven by an older (40s?) White make, with front right damage, and registered in California...

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

Offer is 10,200. Looking online, comparable vehicles are in the $12,200 range.

What is your deductible, and is their figure of $10,200 already figuring that in?

I believe that insurance pays only 80% when totalling out a car.

Can you file a complaint the California state department of insurance?

quote:

Originally posted by Orguss:

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

Offer is 10,200. Looking online, comparable vehicles are in the $12,200 range.

What is your deductible, and is their figure of $10,200 already figuring that in?

I believe that insurance pays only 80% when totalling out a car.

Which was my first thought too but more in the manner of "everything is negotuable, this is a beginning. If they accept it, great" type approach.

and this is why you want agreed value insurance. No matter what.

As an insurance adjuster, I will tell you that GEICO, and most other insureres, evaluate the value of your car by doing a market survey. In other words, checking the various books is one way to get your vehicle's value, but typically the insurer will find similar vehicles in your economic region that are close to yours to see what they are selling for. That is the principal way an insurer arrives at your vehicles value. You need to ask them precisely what vehicles they found upon which they based your value. If they are substantially different or aren't availabe, they should reperform their evaluation.

Most insurers won't negotiatate a total loss offer. They know they have you over a barrel. So most will stick with their offer, or change it very little. You need to ask them for their "Valuation Report" and make sure they are comparing your car to similar others. If they haven't, emphatically point it out to them. Don't be afraid to tell them that you have no compunction about reporting the dispute to the insurance commission.

I'm not an agent or anything insurance connected first thing.

Did the CHP identify the registered owner of the Cherokee? If so, have you or your insurance company filed any claim against their insurer if any? Seems with the damage amount and leaving the scene of an accident causing personal injury might be worth pressuring the CHIPS to pursue it.

IIRC California is a license plate to vehicle state, if the registered owner claims that he/she have sold the vehicle they still may be responsible for damages even IF they "don't know who now owns it" depending on state law. It's worth a try.

Is your agent "on board" with you? Is all of your "eggs in one basket" with all your liability policies through him? May help to put a little pressure on him.

You know anybody at the DMV? Maybe a trip to an office with a copy of the police report for a trace? Seems like they might get interested if there is a insurance law violation involved. Or an attorney friend to make a formal request for records of vehicle registration with intent to file suit for damages?

Just grabbing at straws here.

In 2003-04 I had a similar situation. I had a very clean low mileage car. The offer was around 4K less. I went on autotrader I did a 200 mile search with same color, equipment and miles within 5k. Printed 10 ads and took it to them. Told that in order to replace my car I would need X amount. 5-6 days later they gave me pretty much what I asked for.